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Border Poll Fantasy

Statement by TUV Councillor Timothy Gaston:

“The Irish Prime Minister should mind his own business. It is fantasy to suggest that there is any prospect of a border poll resulting in a United Ireland. Just a few months ago we had an Assembly election which saw Nationalism lose ground. This followed poor results for the SDLP and Sinn Fein in the European, council and Westminster election.

“As Kenny himself notes any such poll would require evidence that a majority of people in Northern Ireland wished to have a United Ireland. The evidence suggests the opposite.

“These comments have more to do with Nationalist politics than political reality.
“Nationalists, either in Northern Ireland or in the Republic, know that they do not have a veto on the internal affairs of the United Kingdom. All of this is just bluster for internal consumption.

“No one was asked in the referendum if they would like Northern Ireland to remain in the EU. The question on the ballot paper was should the UK remain in the EU. It’s also worth noting that the Leave vote in Northern Ireland was greater than the combined vote obtained by Sinn Fein, the SDLP, Alliance and the Green Party at the last Assembly election.

“Our neighbours in the Republic may well choose to join us outside of the undemocratic and outdated EU when we prove to the world that Brexit is a success.”